The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recovered two AR Galil rifles, magazines and live ammunition during an operation targeting a suspected bandits’ hideout in Dajin Madam Forest, located between Plateau and Bauchi states.
The recovery followed a follow-up investigation into the arrest of four suspects accused of supplying arms, ammunition and illicit substances to bandits. The suspects were earlier paraded at the FCT Police Command Headquarters on July 11.
According to the Police Command, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out the operation on Aug. 2 based on credible intelligence provided by one of the arrested suspects, Musbahu Ishaq.
Police said investigations revealed that the criminal syndicate maintained one of its hideouts in Dajin Madam Forest. The investigation further established that Ishaq allegedly obtained arms and ammunition from one Rabiu Hassan before supplying them to Baba Alhaji Sanusi, a suspected bandit kingpin who is currently at large and believed to be hiding in a forest in Katsina State.
A search of the hideout led to the recovery of two AR Galil rifles, calibre 96/.223, Model 355, bearing serial numbers G-2087951 and 2011432, as well as two magazines and live .223 calibre ammunition concealed in the camp.
The Command said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate still at large, recover additional weapons linked to the network and prosecute all suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, assuring residents that sustained operations would continue until all members of the criminal network were arrested and brought to justice.
He also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines to support ongoing security operations.